Expert: Spirit Sword - 4/25/2004

Question
Please describe Prevenient Grace as it relates to our salvation through Jesus Christ.

Answer
Hi Miles,

Thank you for your question.

Prevenient Grace is the doctrinal belief that God's grace toward fallen man has existed from eternity past before the earth and this universe were created.   Prevenient Grace is part of a wider scope of theology known Calvinism.    It is a very scriptural doctrine and it relates to our salvation in the sense that salvation is all an act of God's grace *alone*.  

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

  People believe they have become saved because of something they have done. (ie. accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior)   Rarely do people realize that their belief and desire to dedicate and devote their life to Jesus is a gift of God's prevenient grace.   The scriptures say that no one can come to God unless the Father draws him.   (John 6:44)    No one has the *ability* to come to God unless it is through God's prevenient grace.   Those that God' draws to Himself must be under God's grace first.    

 Before we become saved we are spiritually dead and have no life within us.   This is the reason why we cannot come to God by ourselves.   We cannot understand the truths of God's word unless by God's grace, He gives us the spiritual "ears to hear and eyes to see".    God's word is life and once we hear God's truth, if we are elected by God's grace, we believe.   Romans 10:17.      Who causes us to believe?   God does because he is the author of our faith!     Hebrews 12:2    
We come to believe and have faith through God's prevenient grace!   

Romans 9:15-16 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

 Anyone that has ever become saved has been elected and predestined by God to salvation from before the foundation of the world.   (Ephesians 1)    God's grace is irresistable and anyone that was destined to become saved *will* become saved.     
 
Here is a good article you might want to read that explains Prevenient Grace in more detail:    
    
http://www.pbministries.org/Baptists/Davis%20Huckabee/To%20Studies%20In%20Strong...

Election and predestination is tough subject to swallow but if we understand what happened at the cross and how Jesus *paid*  for sin, we'll have a better appreciation for salvation and the cross Jesus bore at Calvary.    

If you are struggling with understanding any part of this doctrine or understanding election and predestination please write me back and I'll explain more.       


Archangel